Chapter 38

“Say, Sara, why don’t we return already?” I pulled the hem of Sara’s jacket as we were both hiding ourselves in the hedges.

“You’re so noisy. We can’t help it now, we, students from Class 3, no matter how we try, can’t think up any reason to be at the first academic building.” Sara didn’t even bother to give me a glance, she was focused at watching in front.

At this moment, Sara and I were hiding ourselves inside the hedges by the entrance to the first academic building. Even if you say our bodies were small, there were not so many hedges grown around here. I would never think we did a good job concealing ourselves. We certainly could be seen from out there.

So why were we doing such a reckless action here? That was because Sara finally could no longer restrain herself.

Sara, who was supposed to be a heroine in an otome game, for whatever reason had actually fallen for a capture target of the BL game. The other party also happened to be my childhood friend, Zernite. A tough, rugged ikemen. According to Sara, this type of man didn’t exist in the otome game.

Unfortunately, Zernite was a close aide to the Second Prince and also a son to a Count. A full-fledged high noble. Although we were all first years, Zernite’s class was of course Class 1.

The academic building where his class was situated was different to Sara and I who were in Class 3. Moreover, it was far between each building, and we had no overlapping special course.

In short, there was no contact at all between Class 1 and 3. Regardless how love-lorn Sara was, let alone getting close to Zernite, she didn’t have a chance to have a glimpse of him.

Sara personally never thought of having any relationship with Zernite, considering her commoner self. Nevertheless, Sara who was in love wanted to at least have one look at Zernite, thus explaining why we were here.

——And she pulled me along as well.

Well, I could also understand her feelings. Although I was saying this and that, the reason I actually accompanied Sara here was because I was secretly hoping maybe I could also take a glimpse of Al.

With that said, we agreed that the students using the first academic building would surely pass through this entrance, so we sneaked into these hedges, and anxiously kept on watch for Al and Zernite’s figure.

Looking from outside the building like this, Class 1 students indeed possessed refined and elegant looks as expected of them. Although I was a son of a Duke, I still found it hard to approach these people. I might have been too assimilated with Class 3 students.

“You two, what are you doing here?” We were suddenly called out, Sara and I both jolted in surprise.

Both our gazes drew towards the source of the voice, and there was…..

Zernite is here!!!!

Zernite was towering over us with a stern face. It was really worth it for us to lie in wait here with leaves all over us.

“Fania, aren’t you in Class 3? Why are you here?” Zernite heaved a sigh as he pulled me out of the hedges.

I was in excitement and darted my gaze towards Sara. Following that, Zernite reached out a hand towards Sara to also pull her out from the hedges.

Sara! Hey Sara! It’s Zernite here! Zernite you see. Zernite that you have been waiting for!

Then I was shocked.

Who is this?

Cheeks cutely blushed in red, eyes downcast while fidgeting; Sara was exactly like a heroine in an otome game.

What is this? This is so very cute!

“You have nothing to do here, so you shouldn’t be here. Quickly return to Class 3.” As soon as Zernite pulled out such a cute Sara, he strictly gave us a warning.

I have no intention of imposing Sara’s feelings on him, but isn’t he acting too cold? He doesn’t even know how hard we’ve been trying here.

Inwardly, I was complaining about Zernite’s cold treatment towards us, but I also noticed that Al was nowhere in sight.

I wanted to see Al, but he was not here. I swept my gaze around searching for him.

“Where’s Al?” I asked without thinking.

Zernite furrowed his brows at my question.

Fania didn’t know. The first person who noticed Fania and Sara here was Al. Al immediately wanted to rush to them, but Jade noticed that and quickly wound his arm around Al’s body to hold him back. Jade wasn’t enough to restrict him, requiring Bailard to also join forces, leaving Zernite to go to where Fania and Sara were.

“Hey, where’s Al?”

“……..No. No matter how you make a cute face at me, it won’t work. You can cutely tilt your head, or make a flirtatious upward glance, but ‘No’ is still ‘No’.” Zernite only curtly answered, sparing no room for persuasion.

But wait, what the heck is he talking about? It’s not like I am Sara, there’s no way I have a cute face. Zernite is misunderstanding something here. On top of that, what does that ‘No’ mean? I cannot go see Al?

“Eh, You keep saying ‘No’, but ‘No’ to what?” Zernite was wearing a strict face, but I had been long acquainted with him, so I knew he was only acting. I wondered why he would fake it.

“Even if you grab my jacket and cutely coax me, I’m telling you it won’t work on me. ‘No’ is still ‘No’. Look, just return to Class 3 quickly.”

Zernite had this on his mind: ‘This is Fania after all, he must’ve come here just because he wants to have a look at Alfred-sama. Alfred-sama and Fania are just the same, they should know how they are making the people around them doing much work’. Thoughtlessly, Zernite let out a sigh.

Nonetheless, when it came to Zernite, he might have a lot to say, yet he would’ve wanted to send Fania all the way to Class 3. Although he always remonstrated Alfred for being overprotective, Zernite himself was quite overprotective as well.

However, it was not wise to have his relationship with Fania exposed in the open here. At this point, he would only be seen as a passerby giving out warning to suspicious people lingering around the campus, maybe.

If he threw a glance the other way, he could see Fania’s guards in the shadows. So it should be okay for him to return to their class by themselves.

“………Unbelievable, this is unbelievable!” Suddenly a voice that was like creeping on the ground could be heard.

I was startled and turned my head towards the voice, Sara—who was playing a heroine until now—was making a grim expression towards Zernite. She was so love-lorn towards Zernite; just what went wrong, Sara?

“Why, why is Fania’s ‘Kyururun’1 not working? We’re talking about Fania’s ‘Kyururun’, you know. Isn’t that weird? That is simply impossible!” Sara clenched both her fists as she emotionally appealed to Zernite.

Sara, you’re saying out loud with such a severe tone, but the thing you said just doesn’t make sense, okay? What the heck is ‘Kyururun’? When have I ever done such a thing?

“Hmph, how long do you think Fania and I have known each other? No matter how cute Fania’s gestures are, I’m already used to them. Moreover, it’s a matter of course that Fania is cute, so it’s nothing new.” With arms folded across his chest, Zernite was putting up an attitude that he was only speaking of facts.

Let me say something here. Zernite, you’re mistaken. What’s with that ‘it’s a matter of course that Fania is cute’? Listen to me, soon I’ll be even bigger than you, and more macho than you. At that time, I’ll say it to your face that you are cute, okay. Just remember this!

“I fully know that. It’s a matter of course that Fania is cute. No, Fania’s existence itself is cute. Um, I’d rather say that he is an organism called cute. I totally know that. Anyhow, cuteness should have no limit. Isn’t that right? But then, why aren’t you holding Fania in your embrace? You should at least want to snuggle up to Fania. It’s Fania ‘Kyururun’ we’re facing here, okay? It’s the ‘Kyururun’!!”

Sara-san, stop it. My heart full of shame is about to pour out of my mouth right away. This is way more than I could take. And there, Zernite! What are you doing nodding to what she says without even objecting to any of it? Don’t agree with her!

“Y-O-U—T-W-O! When I stay silent listening to you people, exactly what are you thinking me as? Catching people and then saying stuff like cute organisms. Don’t treat someone as non-human. I’m different from those little animals!” When I mean it, I also could say it out severely.

I glared at Sara and Zernite.

“I’ll say it upfront, when Fania was little, his cuteness was just overloaded; it was to the point of brutality. Presently, if I were to quote Alfred-sama, he also exudes some sexy allure, but personally I don’t think so.”

“I-I’m not frustrated. I certainly am not. I’m not jealous that I couldn’t see Fania when he was a little kid!”

Zernite and Sara didn’t listen to what I said at all. Not only that, they didn’t even look at me.

“You two, listen to me!! To say I was cute, just how bad your eyes could be? Moreover, Zernite, you said it right, that Sara is cuter than me. Didn’t you say that before?” I nearly threw a tantrum.

Don’t ignore people and talk among yourselves! Don’t get excited conversing about ‘Fania this or that, or ‘He’s cute when doing this’ or ‘No, he’s cuter during this’!

“Fania, listen to me. I’m a genuine otome game’s heroine. So it’s a given that I’m cute. In terms of facial features, I’m cuter than Fania. However, cuteness is not only skin deep. Your ever changing facial expressions, how you easily get worked up, how you’re nosey yet faint-hearted, Fania is cute just because you’re Fania. It’s conclusive, your cuteness is ultimate!” Sara grasped on both my shoulders as she reasoned with me.

No way, even if you say that like that’s the truth of the world, I won’t ever be deceived.

“Ho~ So you really understand it.”

There, you Zernite! Don’t you just agree with what Sara says!

“Seems like we can get along.” Sara and Zernite firmly did a handshake.

Heyy! What are you two doing? This is no place to deepen your friendship! You’re giving me illusion as if you’ll run towards the setting sun by the sea coast.

Sara, what happened to your longing for Zernite? Zernite, what happened to your rough and aloof ikemen character?

I was tired of throwing a tantrum there. These two were already beyond me. I was simply exhausted.

author’s note: Al was kept restrained with Bailard’s arms wound around him.